Ahmedabad: City with a Past

by Esther David

A biography of Ahmedabad from a winner of the Sahitya Akademi award

There are many legends around the founding of Ahmedabad. One has it that some time in 1411 AD, a dog was looking for easy prey on the banks of the Sabarmati when a hare attacked him and drove him away. Sultan Ahmed Shah witnessed the scene and, impressed by the hare's spirit, decided to build a city right there.Now, six hundred years later, Ahmedabad is a city at the intersection of the old and the new. Centuries-old dargahs and havelis stand alongside high-rises and glitzy shopping malls. Once known for its textile mills, it is now one of the world's fastest developing cities. But while the fortifications of the walled city crumbled long ago, divisions between its varied groups have come to the fore, pulling them apart.Esther David, a member of Ahmedabad's small Bene Israel Jewish community, is a storehouse of city stories. In City with a Past, she takes the reader on an intimate rickshaw ride through a city full of life and wondrous contradictions.

Genres: India

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2016

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having spent her life in Ahmedabad, David Esther gives a very loving account of the city. Not the most in depth account of the city and its history, she manages to give an interesting account of the life in the old city and its people. A book that will make you fall n love with the city

[serene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning about the furniture and her home is extraordinarily absorbing, but then all the remaining parts become pale in comparison. There are snippets of interesting stories accompanied with vivid descriptions of the sight and smell of the city. However, the fragments do not seem to be woven together. I felt especially surprised about how her diaries about the earthquake and "riot" in 2001-2002 were so brief and not followed by any more commentaries or remarks. It is a light-hearted easy read that has provided romantic impressionistic accounts of the city, but not something that helps me critically engage with complex questions from this place.

[Sonya Puri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting travel book on an auto rickshaw written in a simple style. Full of anecdotes & folklore such as the saint who stretched his arms & pleaded the river Sabarmati not to change its course. It takes you through the narrow lanes of the city, the artisans, the food stalls, mouth watering Gujju dishes.
Definitely a must read for all visiting Ahmedabad.
Illustrations done by the author herself who is an artist also are cute.

[Aanal J Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a little hard to follow at times since there’s no chronology which is fine if it was intended as aurthor’s connection with Ahmedabad and her memories but it isn’t.

A lot of cool things about the city and its traditions is briefly mentioned and it seems the title is a little misleading. I for one was under the impression that it is about Ahmedabad’s past and present. What I got instead was a slightly bitter person annoyed with how Gujaratis in Ahmedabad have come under the influence of the west and let go of their own identity and culture. While I don’t necessarily disagree with that it doesn’t highlight all the rich culture and heritage the city still holds dearly. And if someone who’s not from Ahmedabad reads this, they won’t feel much warmth towards the city I’d feel.

I did enjoy parts of it which were like a time capsule for the city, having lived here for more than two decades. Things certainly have changed a lot in the past few years and it does at times seem like the city is heavily influenced by monetary exploits, so I do share the same sentiment with the author.

And I understand not wanting to delve into the politics which is heavily tied to the city but that does take away a lot when talking about the city. And even the good parts like Navaratri or Uttrayan are alluded to briefly without highlighting their significance and what it means to an Ahmedavadi person, instead the author decides to focus on tangential things which was rather disappointing.

[Dharini Padh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non linear yet beautifully strewn account of experiences and observations living in the old city of Ahmedabad, while reminiscing these times in contrast to the new life that has emerged on the other side of the Sabarmati. From food, to markets, heritage, people, community, architecture, practices, autowallahs and much more, Esther David weaves the essence of Old Ahmedabad through a most personal and engaging narrative. A soul fulfilling journey to read this as an Amdavadi, and also an ideal read for someone looking to discover the city in all it's colours!

[Venkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars